Fire-resistant door frame



May 22, 1951 F. J. BREMER FIRE-RESISTANT DOOR FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 16, 1948 VJ] III JNVENTOR. FREDL'R/CK J BREMER May 22, 1951F. J. BREMER FIRE-RESISTANT DOOR FRAME Filed NOV. 16, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ii tion, the door and frame being mounted in a door opening in a vaultwall;

Fig. 2 is a view in section, taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1, showing theconstruction of the door stiles and a means for adjusting the door frameand its door to and securing it in a plumb position;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1,showing the construction of the door frame and header and means adaptedto co-operate with the means provided for the door frame stiles foradjusting the door frame and its door to and securing it in plumbposition;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation from the vault side of one of the doorframe stiles and a part of the header and sill, the rear closure platesbeing removed; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in section showing a modified construction ofthe door frame stiles and header and securing means therefor.

Ihroughout the drawings and specification like characters indicate likeparts.

In Figure l of the drawings the front of a vault wall I is shownprovided with an opening 2 therein in which a vault door frame 3 ismounted. A vault door 4 is shown hung .on hinges 5 in the door frame.

The door frame 3 and its door 4 are preferably fabricated and assembledas a unit ready forinstallation in a vault. The door 4 and its frame 3are of the type known as high temperature fire-resistant doors. The door4 may be of conventional fire-proof construction. The 1 frame 3 is soconstructed that the time required for-installing a high temperaturefire-resistant vault door is reduced to a matter of hours, asdistinguished from days, and it may be installed after the wall surfacesurrounding the vault wall has been finished, that is, plastered andpainted,

I or otherwise decorated, without in any way marring the finish of thewalls.

The construction of the door frame is such that the door frame and itsassociated door 4 may be adjusted to and secured in a plumb positionwithout the use of :fgrouting materials and which makes possible at anyfuture time after installation, the readjustment of the door to a plumbposition, should the door its frame for one reason or another,

' be thrown out of plumb or alignment.

' sist the heat of a fire.

Door frame 3 comprises a sill I, stiles 8 and 9 by the number of hoursthat the vault is to re- In forming the opening for the vault door frameand its door, the floor on which the sill rests may be made as level andsmooth as it can be.

The dimensions or size of the'op'ening will be made larger than the doorframe so, that the door frame and its door may be positioned within thedoor opening. v

The-door stiles 8 and 9 and the header I0 are, 7

as shown, constructed in substantially the same. 'fashion, that is, thetransverse section of each is substantially identical. The door stilesand the header are hollow within which safe insulation 12 may beconfined. Each door stile and header is fabricated from steel plates andwelded at 7 various points to each other and to the sill so that a rigidstrong frame is provided. As door stiles 8 and 9 are substantiallysimilar, a description of one will be sufficient, similar parts in theother being designated by the same reference characters.

Door stile 8 comprises an upright l3 having a series of inclined facesand grooves therein shaped to conform to the contour of the adjacentside of door 4 for purposes well understood in this art. The inner endof the jamb I3 is of Z-shape, so as to provide an abutment or keeper 14for a locking bolt l5. Immediately inside the jamb i3 is a member [6 ofsubstantially L-shape, one leg of which is welded to a flange I! of thejamb member I3. It will be observed that the contour of the jamb memberof stile 9 differs some from that of stile 8 to the extent necessary forit to conform to the surface of the hinge side of door 4. Stile 8 alsoincludes an upright Hi, the forward or outer portion 29 of which is ofchannel shape and the inner portion 2| of which is of substantiallyL-shape, the two portions being joined by one side 22 of the outerchannel. The front portion 20 is disposed relatively close to theadjacent wall of the opening in the vault wall while the inner portion2| is spaced a substantially greater distance from the vault wall, toprovide working space for tools employed in setting the door as will beexplained later. The front of stile 8 is provided with a plate 24 whichis welded or otherwise secured to the front flanges of jamb member l3and the upright [9. This plate extends across the space between thestile and the wall at the side of the opening in the vault wall andabuts the surface of the vault wall, thereby concealing this space andclosing it at the front of the door frame. The rear of the door stilemembers 16 and I 9 are flanged as at 25 and 2? to serve as abutments fora closure plate 28. The closure plate 28 may be secured to the flange 21of the stile plate i9 by means of bolts 36 that are threaded into nuts3| welded to the flange 27.

The header it! comprises a jamb member 33 which is shaped to conform tothe contour of the top edge of the vault door 4. To the inner end of thejamb member 33 is welded or otherwise secured a member 35 ofsubstantially L-shape. The header also includes a structural member 36having a front portion 31 of substantially channel shape and a rearportion 38 of substantially L-shape, the two portions being connected bya side 39 of channel 31. The structural members forming the header, ascan be seen by inspection of the drawings, conform in shapesubstantially to the shape of the structural members comprising the doorstiles B and 9. The ends of structural members of the header meet theupper ends of the structural members of the door stiles, as shown inFig. 4, being welded or otherwise secured at their junction points. Thefront of the header i0 is provided with a plate 40 which is welded orotherwise secured to the front flanges of channel member 3! and jambmember 33. Plate 40 as shown, extends upwardly so as to abut the frontsurface of the vault wall and conceal the space between the wall of theopening in the vault wall and header member 36. As shown in Fig. 3 theinner portion 38 of the header member 36 is offset with respect to thefront portion 31 so that a relatively wider space is provided be tweenthe vault wall and portion 38, than between the vault wall and thefront, portion 31, to provide working space for tools as will later beexplained. V

The header constructed as above described, is hollow within which safeinsulation may be confined. The back of the header may be closed bymeans of a plate 42 secured to a flange 43 on offset portion 38 by meansof bolts 44 threaded V s into nuts 45 which are welded or otherwisesecured to the flange 43.

Fig. 4 is a rear view or a view from the vault side of the door, closureplates '28 and 42 being removed to show the hollow spaces within theheader and the door stiles and that these spaces communicate with eachother, and the spaces between the outer structural members of the doorstiles and header and the adjacent walls at the opening in the vaultwall and that these spaces communicate with each other.

The means employed for securing the door frame in the opening'in thevault wall to maintain and effectuate a confined or enclosed'heatinsulating space between the door frame stiles and header and the wallsat the sides and top of the opening in the vault wall, may be variouslyconstructed and take various forms. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 jacks are shownas a means for securing the door frame in the vault wall opening toprovide the spacing of the door frame from the vault wall while in Figs.5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of securing and space-closingmeans.

In order that the door frame and its door may be mounted in theopening'in the vault wall without grouting the same in, as in the caseof prior art doors, means are provided in conjunction with the doorstiles and the header whereby the door frame may-be adjustably securedto the walls at the sides and top of the opening in the vault wall in aplumb position.

In the form of securing means shown in Figs. 2 to 4, each door stile isprovided with a plurality of jacks 41 located at spaced points in theheight of the door stiles in the relatively wide space at the rearthereof so that there will be sufficient room or space to apply toolsthereto. The jacks may be in the form of screws threaded through nuts 48secured to the offset portions 2i of the door stiles as by welding. Theouter ends of these screws are provided with bearing heads 49 shaped toreceive a wrench or suitable tool for turning the jacks duringadjustment and securing of the frame. If desired, lock nuts 50 may beprovided for locking the jacks in place once the door frame and its doorhave been adjusted to and secured in plumb position. The upperstructural member 355 is likewise provided with a plurality of jacks 4?.These jacks are mounted on the offset portion 38 of member 36 andcomprise screws threaded through nuts 48 which are welded or otherwisesecured to the portion 38.

The ends of these screws adjacent the vault wall opening may be providedwith enlarged heads 49 shaped to accommodate a wrench or other suitabletool. Also if desired, lock nuts 5!] may be employed for locking thejacks in any desired position.

When an assembled frame having a door therein, is to be mounted in theopening of a vault wall, the rear plates 23 and 42 are removed and thejacks are retracted so that the heads 49 thereof will not interfere withthe walls of the vault door opening when the frame and door are beinginserted into the same. A frame with its door is then slid into theopening in the vault wall from the front thereof until the marginalplates 24 and 4f] abut the front surface of the vault wall. The door andframe are then shifted until a uniform space obtains between the outeredges of the door stiles and the adjacent walls of the opening in thevault wall. The jacks of the door stiles and header are then turneduntil the heads thereof engage the vault walls and the door is testedfor plumb with the door 4 in closed position. The door is also swung towide open position and'the frame-and door are again checked for plumb.The jacks 4"! are then adjusted at various-pointsaroundthe door frame asmay be required to attain the desired plumb condition of the door andframe when the door 4 is closed, as well as when it is wide open. Whenthis plumb condition has been achieved the jacks are tightened uniformlyuntil the frame is firmly secured in plumb position.

It will be apparent that as the jacks are tightened during the plumbingof the door, that stresses ancl'strains will be set up in the outerstile members and in the upper member 36 of the header. To resist thisstrain and to make the header and the stiles more rigid, struts '51 areprovided'in the door'stiles'and struts 52 are provided in the header.These struts are secured adjacent the jacks and span the space betweenthe inner and outer structural members of the stiles and the upper andlower members'of the header. The struts'may be welded or otherwisesecured to the door stilesand header members to give sufficientrigidity.

The door frame securing means'shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is such that theportions 2| and 38 .of the stile and header members [9 and 36,respectively, need not necessarily be offset. In the form shown in Figs.5 and 6 the border plates 28 and 42 in conjunction with "bolts 53anchored in the vault wall on the vault side thereof, are employed tosecure the door frame and door in a plumb position in the wall openingand to'maintain the stiles and header of the frame in spacedrelationship to the walls at the sides and top of'such opening. Theseplates serve also to close this space at the vault side of the doorframe as well as the openings in the vault sides of the stiles andheader.

The border plates 28 and 42 are secured to members It and 35'cf'the'stiles and headers by bolts 32] and M as in the fornrshown inFigs. 2 to l. When so securedaspace S remains between the rear edges ofspaces between "the vault'wall and the sides and top of the frame. Atthe outer edges of plates 28 and at the'top edge of plate 42 enlargedopenings or slots 54i'niay be provided to accommodate the bolts 53.These openings are of such size and shape thatthe door frame may beadjusted to a plumb position and to'establish the spacing between thevault wall at the sides and top of the opening therein. When thisadjustment has been made, the nuts on anchor bolts 53 are drawn uptightly whereby the border plates are firmly clamped to the vault wall.By tightening bolts til and 44 the necessary extent, the door frame ispulled inwardly to the extent necessary to firmly clamp the borderplates 24 and 40 against the front of the vault wall. The pressure ofthe front border plates on the vault wall aids holding the door frameand door in a secure position.

When the door frame is secured, a tight dea air space is effectedbetween the door frame and the walls at the sides and top of the openingin the vault wall. This air space is an effective heat insulator. Itsinsulating properties appear to materially improve when steam permeatesinto it from the insulation confined within the header and stiles of theframe. This steam develops when the door frame is exposed to hot fire.Since the joints between the various structural members of the stilesand header are not pressure tight the steam can escape into the space.

.Athigh temperature steam or vapor can also be given off by the vaultwall which partially bounds "this space.

The space between the door frame and the vault walls may also be filledwith a dry 1 insulating material such as mineral wool or other V thedoor stiles and the header may be of any standard safe fire-resistantinsulation. Materials high temperature this moisture is evaporated intosteam. This steam can escape from the hollow space of the header andstiles into the confined space between the outer members of the stilesand the adjacent Walls of the vault opening and the space between theupper member of header and the adjacent wall of the vault opening. Theflange plates at the front and rear of the door frame tend to confinethe steam within the space between the vault wall and the door frame andthis is believed to add materially to the heat insulating properties ofthe space between the outer stile members l9 and the upper header member36.

The space between the door frame and the walls of the opening in thevault wall may be utilized as a dead air space -or.it may be used as aspace for confining a dry, fibrous insulation such as mineral wool, orthe like; or the insulation may be a dry vermiculite, either calcined orraw, or con- H sisting of a mixture of raw and calcined vermiculite.-After the insulation has been properly placed, the plates at the rear orvault side of the door may be mounted in place and secured to the doorstiles and header.

If after the door frame and its door have been installed and the frameand door are thrown out of plumb for one reason Or another, as where thebuilding settles, for example, the door frame can -be readjusted toplumbby the means herein dis-.

closed and described.

Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art, that various modifications and changes may be madewithout departing either from the spirit or the scope thereof.Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is:

l. A fire resistant vault door adapted to be placed in assembledcondition into a door opening in a vault wall and secured therein inplumb position without grouting the door, said door having a framecomprising a sill, stiles and .head

er all rigidly secured together, the stiles and header being fabricatedfrom shaped steel plates to provide a hollow space therein forcontaining heat insulation, the rear portions of the stile platesadjacent the vault wall opening being offi set away from the vault wallto provide working 5 space for tools accessible from the valut side.screw jacks having screw thread support with the offset portions of saidstiles and headers and being disposed tobe actuated at substantiallyright an les to the walls of the opening in the vault wall into and outof engagement with the same whereby by adjusting the relative forcesexerted by said screws on the adjacent vault walls I the door frame maybe adjusted to and secured in plumb position and also provide an airspace between said stiles and header and the walls of the opening in thevault wall, the front and rear of said stiles and headers being providedwith border plates adapted to abut the surface of the vault wallsurrounding said door to close and conceal the space between the wallsof the opening in the vault wall and the door frame.

2. A door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vaultside of said stiles and header are provided with removable plateswhereby access may be had to the hollow interiors thereof to fill thesame with insulation.

3. A door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vaultside of said stiles and header are provided with removable plates thatabut the wall surfaces surrounding the door on the vault side to renderthe tool space for said jacks and the hollow interiors of said stilesaccessible for adjusting the jacks and filling the stiles and headerwith insulation.

4. A door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vaultside of said stiles and headers are provided with removable plateswhereby access may be had to the hollow interiors thereof to fill thesame with insulation, and insulation in the air space between the doorstiles and header and the adjacent walls of the opening in the vaultwall.

5. A fire-resistant vault door frame adapted to have a fire-resistantdoor hung therein, said frame having hollow steel stiles and a hollowsteel header and a steel sill all secured together as a rigid structure,fire-resistant safe insulation containing moisture substantially fillingthe hollow space of said stiles and header, the door frame beingdisposed for mounting in a door opening in'a vault wall the dimensionsof which are such that when the frame is placed in the opening a spacebetween the walls of the vault wall opening and the adjacent sides ofthe door stiles and the top of the header is provided, border platesextending around the periphery of and being secured to the fronts of thedoor stiles and header, said plates extending laterally of the frame soas to abut the wall surface surrounding the opening in the vault walland close the space between said stiles and header and the vault wallat' the sides and top of the opening therein, steel borderplates at thevault side of said frame and secured there to, said plates spanning thespaces between the door frame and vault wall and abutting the sur-' actin said opening with the sides and top thereof for securing said framein the said opening to maintain the spacing between the sides and top ofsaid frame and the sides and top of the vault wall opening and foradjusting at will said door frame for plumb. V V,

6. The combination with a fire-resistant-vault wall having a rectangularopening therein for a door, of a fireesistant door frame having a doorhung therein, the sides and top of said door frame being provided withmeans adapted to coact with the sides and top of said rectangularopening for securing said frame in said opening in spaced relation tothe sides and top of said rectangular opening and for adjusting at willsaid door frame for plumb, the door frame comprising hollow steel stilesand a hollow steel. header, fire-resistant insulation containingmoisture substantially filling said stiles and header, and steel platesREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof'this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Cahill Apr. 17, 1888 Dick et a1Apr. 6, 1920 Dick July 29, 1924 Abbott July 8, 1930

